Originally scheduled for release way back in March 1996, "The Raw Factor" by North Carolina native Omniscence is one of the last of the unreleased mid-90's albums to see the light of day. Despite being awarded The Source's coveted "Hip Hop Quotable" and dropping two well-received singles ("Amazin" and "Touch Y'all"), record label politics meant the full-length "The Raw Factor" album was never released and fans were left wondering what might have been.

28 years later, "The Raw Factor" is finally being released on vinyl, CD and digital stores. Featuring punchline-driven lyrics from Omniscence delivered in his unmistakable cadence, and backed by head-nodding production from Fanatic, the album is a must-own for fans of 90's Hip Hop.

Omniscence haunted the same early 90's cyphers and stages that many lyrical greats from the era had to cross. With a gruff delivery and equal adeptness with punchlines and metaphors, his high finish at the 1994 edition Battle For World Supremacy at the New Music Seminar assured heads across the culture were watching. After this, Omniscence locked in with producer Fanatic (who also laced tracks for Notorious B.I.G., Ma$e and Michael Jackson). The result was "The Raw Factor" album, fifteen plus tracks of jazzed out boom-bap, replete with crackin' drums.

Now Below System Records has not only given the album its first deluxe physical release (including 2xLP, CD and digital) as well as a slew of bonus/unreleased tracks. More

Los Angeles emcee Pawz One announces the 10th year anniversary release of his "Face The Facts" album on vinyl. The album is Pawz One's first solo album and was originally released in 2014 on vinyl, CD and digital formats. The first edition vinyl was sold out quickly back in 2014. Now the special edition vinyl is available on red and black vinyl, and new artwork.

Featuring a combination of gritty and smooth production from Los Angeles producers Default & Breeze that embody the genuine golden-era style. Heavyweight guests such as Rakaa Iriscience of Dilated Peoples, Ras Kass, Termanology, 2Mex and Masta Ace all make solid appearances throughout the album. More

Red Vinyl!

Los Angeles emcee Pawz One announces the 10th year anniversary release of his "Face The Facts" album on vinyl. The album is Pawz One's first solo album and was originally released in 2014 on vinyl, CD and digital formats. The first edition vinyl was sold out quickly back in 2014. Now the special edition vinyl is available on red and black vinyl, and new artwork.

Featuring a combination of gritty and smooth production from Los Angeles producers Default & Breeze that embody the genuine golden-era style. Heavyweight guests such as Rakaa Iriscience of Dilated Peoples, Ras Kass, Termanology, 2Mex and Masta Ace all make solid appearances throughout the album. More

"Blackmarket Seminar", an album by Kazi and it's entirely produced by Madlib. Guest features by Madlib, MED, Wildchild, Declaime (Dudley Perkins) and Oh No. The album was recorded in 1996, remastered in 2016 and now available on CD and all digital platforms. Message from Kazi: "We recorded this album in the wee hours at CDP studios back in '96. It was pretty much me, Madlib and Declaime in the lab when this album was recorded. I learned so much from Lib cadence, rhyme patterns, timing and how to dig for records. What some people don't know is this cat actually took the time to show me how to make beats. I must say working with Lib was an amazing experience. The "Blackmarket Seminar" is a very raw and dark album. We came up with "Black Market" because at the time we were doing Hip Hop that nobody else was doing and to us you could only get it on the "Black Market". When you first play the album you'll hear characters on a skit in search of the black market seminar. We really tried to make it seem like the characters were outside walking around looking for it." We recorded a new video for the song "To Be Lost" as it is about MCs selling out to remain in the game and still makes perfect sense in the present day. More

Repress!

Francois Kevorkian is a name that should need no introduction. With over 40 years in the game FK has occupied numerous roles in his long and storied career - drummer, DJ, A&R man, remixer and producer - his skills know no boundaries. Having DJ-ed during the nascent days of club culture in NYC alongside Walter Gibbons, Larry Levan and more, Kevorkian has been there from day one. Years spent in the seminal clubs of the day sharpened his ears and his prowess behind the mixing desk saw him become the A&R man at the legendary Prelude records in the early 80's, this in turn led to him working with everyone from The Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, Erasure, D-Train, Yazoo, The Smiths, Kraftwerk and many many more. A true NYC original and legend, Kevorkian is still active today and the respect he commands amongst his peers has never waned, his adventurous extended DJ sets, seminal mixes and remixes and his open ears and open mind have ensured that he will go down in history as a musical pioneer.

Rewind to 1995. Kevorkian's 'Wave Music' imprint has come into existence with a handful of releases. No-one could imagine that his self-produced 'FK EP' - the next release on the label - would be a stone cold classic. Easily one of the most consistent, exciting and solid EP's to come out of NYC during this golden era of dance music. Across 4 tracks we are taken on a sound journey through a world that is undoubtedly informed by FK's time as an engineer, DJ and most importantly, a music lover.

EP opener 'Hypnodelic' brings us into this world, a deep, driving cut that fuses the dubbed out vocals of Freddie Turner against FK's keyboards and immaculate drum programming, oozing cosmic electronic soul, this track was destined to be a future classic. 'Mindspeak' also boasts some tough drums and with a respectful nod to Chicago is an incredibly mixed and arranged peak-time cut that will drive your dancefloor into deep space again and again. 'Edge Of Time' welcomes us to the flipside of the EP, wild Latin percussions, tablas and old school horn stabs drive this monstrous cut, not to mention cavernous dub FX and that huge bassline that just doesn't let up. Essential. 'Moov' rounds things out on a more subdued, stripped back vibe. Reversed percussions and spaced-out synth chords lace this beautifully understated and warm track, one that builds into a crescendo of melodies and hypnotic rhythms and the perfect way to close what has been a truly special musical journey.

This essential reissue of the 'FK EP' has been fully licensed, sanctioned and remastered in conjunction with FK from the original master sources by Optimum Mastering, Bristol UK, repressed onto high quality vinyl and packaged as the 1995 release was. A truly classic record indeed, available again for 2018. Welcome back Wave Music! More

Tracklisting
A1 Yan Cook - Nocturnal
A2 Yan Cook - Proximity
B1 Yan Cook - Antimatter
B2 Yan Cook - Exomoon More

2022 Repress More

2CD TRACKLIST (+ DL CONTINUOUS MIX)

CD1
01. Charles Webster & Ursula Rucker – Begin Anew (Quivver & Dave Seaman Beginapella)
02. DJ Counselling – Sun God
03. Quivver & Dave Seaman – The Water’s Edge
04. Quivver – Fever
05. Murat Uncuoglu – Magico
06. Enamour – Merge with Dust
w/ Carlos Barbero & Dom Fricot – Closer to Closure (accapella)
07. Four Candles – On the Fence
08. Kamilo Sanclemente – Horizons
w/ Anthony Pappa x Jamie Stevens x Alice Rose – Nothing to Hide (accapella)
09. Aikon – Hurricane
10. Stas Drive – Bipolar
11. Einmusik – Walensee
12. Quivver & Dave Seaman – Mushroom Embargo
13. Ben Archbold – Psychedelic Halo
14. Quivver & Dave Seaman – Make This Disappear
15. Robert Babicz – Mystik
16. Just Her – Lifted

CD2
01. Quivver & Dave Seaman – Go with The Flo
02. Paul (AR) & Capri – Push
03. pølaroit – Apart (Timo Maas Remix)
04. Dave Seaman – YoHo (James Harcourt remix)
05. Gai Barone – Thinking Together
06. Dee Montero – Sensei
w/ Quivver x Dave Seaman feat. Brianna Price – Rockets & Rainbows (accapella)
07. Quivver & Dave Seaman – Operation Magpie
08. Jamie Stevens – The Peace Machine
09. Jepe – Dream State
10. Stas Drive – Hold Me Tight
11. Axel Giova & Larrosa – Conditional
12. Floormagnet – Other Sounds (Original mix w/ Circulation remix)
13. Underworld – Low Burn (Dave Seaman remix)
14. Jamie Stevens & Kasey Taylor – Verlaine
15. Chicola – Dust Coins
16. Ron Flatter – Ovid


Following 2023's acclaimed, chart-topping mixes from Henry Saiz, and Tim Green, Balance have enlisted the services of two masters of their craft in Dave Seaman and Quivver, to curate their next mix compilation release. Style and substance joined at the hip.



With Balance presents Dave Seaman & Quivver, both artists have reached out far and wide to their producer friends to pull off a real coup. Every track is exclusive to this release - not one track has previously been released. If that's not enough, the pair have added five exclusive collaborative productions, making this release is a perfect snapshot of where Dave Seaman & Quivver are musically right now.

The lead single from the album, ‘Make This Disappear’ features experienced vocalist Quivver on lead vocals...and even has Dave Seaman making his debut behind the mic contributing backing vocals. A first after more than three decades of making music.

There is also particular excitement about Dave Seaman's highly sought after, previously unreleased remix of Underworld's ‘Low Burn’, which gets its long overdue release here. Exclusive tracks come from some of the hottest electronic music producers, from the fabulous Einmusik, through to Robert Babicz, Gai Barone, Dee Montero, Timo Maas, and the wonderful Just Her, amongst many other quality artists.

Quivver explains: "With DJ Mixes two-a-penny these days online, we really wanted to create something special that would stand out from the crowd and stand the test of time."

Dave Seaman adds: "Much of modern music culture is so disposable in today's digital era, so when we were offered the opportunity to hark back to the halcyon days of the mix compilation and make an album as a physical product again, we jumped at the chance. The Balance Mix series is one of the most respected out there, so it's an honour to become part of their 20-year history. It was a true labour of love which we hope comes across when you press play."




More

11 song LP, one track in extended mix.

Classic LP recorded circa 1980 in the Radics / Scientist era, this is a reissue of the 1997 pressing with 2 bonus tracks, but with a fresh new layout for 2024. Timeless stuff here that is the top shelf of its era. More

Renowned US producer Maceo Plex releases his highly anticipated third album, ‘’93', a homage to his three-decade journey through the realms of electronic music. Marking both a passion and a prolific career, the maestro presents a tantalising body of work that masterfully blends House, Hip Hop, Global Bass, Techno, Breaks, and Electronica. This audacious fusion delves into historic and modern influences, crafting an audio journey that transcends time, rich in history yet boldly future-facing.

‘’93' is a cross-genre exploration, seamlessly balancing emotion with hard-hitting beats. Maceo Plex collaborates with a stellar lineup of artists, including Diplo for his contribution on ‘You Don’t Have To Wait’ with Cubicolor, Oscar and the Wolf, Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction), Johnny Jewel and Desire, Kirsty Hawkshaw, Mystic Bill, AVNU, Giovanni, Ishi, and Tyler Hill, resulting in a diverse and dynamic musical affair.
This album narrates the story of a highly esteemed artist at a pivotal juncture in his career, consistently evolving towards new directions. Departing from the early deeper house sound that initially defined him, Maceo Plex intentionally ventures into new territory, steering away from his famed melodic and techno direction in recent years. Nevertheless, '93' retains the essence of Maceo Plex's signature style, transcending various sounds and genres in a manner reminiscent of his electrifying DJ sets, meticulously curated for the dancefloor and the crowds.

‘93’ vinyl LP by Maceo Plex is available on Lone Romantic from 17th May 2024.

Key Feedback Quotes:

Pete Tong - Maceo is such a talented producer. A sonic juganaut. An inspiration to so many aspiring music makers. He's a master of analogue and digital in the studio. He's a total 'one of'.
Kolsch - Incredible album!!!!
Artbat - “Very cooooool album!
Gregor Tresher - Wow, now this is what I call an album! Extraordinary stuff, I love it! Big up, Eric!
Hot Since 82 - Nothing short of sensational. My fav producer and DJ who consistantly sets the bar far too high and we all play catch up. Love it.
Rodriguez Jr - Awesome album. LOVE IT. Such a wide spectrum of influences here. Respect!
Laurent Garnier - Very cool. Will play these
Hernan Cattaneo - This is a really good album!
Wehbba - happy to finally see the album coming out, lots of gems, Nasty, Just You and I, Get out Of Here and You're My Desire are my main picks.
Eelke Kleijn - Already listened to the whole album on Spotify. Fantastic. Miles ahead of everyone else. Thanks for sending this, will play many of these for sure.
AFFKT - all tracks are amazing
Ida Engberg - Loooove this release! Stop that and Serpent jazz for me, can't wait to play them. Lone Romantic killing it!
Victor Ruiz - Honestly, you’re a genius! 10/10 productions always.
Pig&Dan - Great to hear new tunes from one of my favorite producers out there
Oliver Huntemann - some real gems on here
Fideles - wow, love it all
Peter Kruder - Love 'em all! Thanks for sending my way!
Yotto - Sick Sick Sick work!
Jody Wisternoff - Insane tracks from Maceo!!!
Terr - Amazing music as always, thx!
Nicolas Masseyeff - Solid release! Full Support!
Paige - Nasty is an absolutely mind-blowing track!!
Braxton - Incredible Album. .
Dense & Pika - Wicked stuff from Maceo.
Eli Brown - Always great music from Maceo Plex.
Anden - Congrats on the album! Love it!
Sergio Muñoz / Fur Coat - Great work from Eric! Congratulations.
La Fleur - So many gems in there, looking forward to having a proper listen from start to end! Thx
Captain Mustache - Big work here from Maceo, congratz!
Alex Kennon - This is a masterpiece!
Timo Maas - Clickbait is a cool track, I like the deep funk.
Martin Eyerer - This is a great album!! I love nasty most, but all great.
Nick Warren - This is such a great album.
Laurent Garnier - Very cool EP. Will play these.
Jonas Rathsman - Stop That sounds interesting

Key Radio Play:

Pete Tong/BBC Radio 1 - Maceo Plex ‘Hot Mix’ - 05/01/23
Pete Tong/BBC Radio 1 - Stop That (Essential New Tune) + You Don't Have To Wait - 15/12/23
Pete Tong/BBC Radio 1 - You Don’t Have To Wait - 15/12/23
Pete Tong/BBC Radio 1 - Maceo Plex guest mix - 05/01/24
Pete Tong/BBC Radio 1 - Stop That - 01/12/23 More

Tracklisting
A1 Emmanuel - Illusion Of Choice
A2 Emmanuel - Lost In Translation
B1 Emmanuel - Analytics
B2 Emmanuel - New Media More